SantaFe1

You will love it! Did this on our 2019 WC. And yes there are safaris!!! We did two.

Well, here’s a fun game we are playing tonight. Where is it that you haven’t been and don’t have booked, that you really want to get to? Last chance bucket list. We are so fortunate to have traveled extensively and hope to keep traveling the next couple of years. Ours are Istanbul and Santorini.

I’m glad you got to go. We have had so many friends say it is a place to skip, so we weren’t disappointed.

I believe you mean squalls. There is a big difference out here where I live.

In the cities, yes, the shops are open. But on our cruise, we missed some of the main ports due to weather. For example, we only had one day in Livorno/Florence rather than two. We didn’t get to Monaco. Some of the little towns and villages that we visited instead had shops closed for the season.

I tend to keep my packing lists, so I just looked this up. Both my husband and I took several sweaters. We took long sleeve polo and knit shirts. Very few short sleeve polos etc. I am always cold on the ship. I took a cardigan and several shawls, which I wear at night. Be sure to pack a good rain coat. And just keep an eye on the weather. We use Luggage Forward, so I had to send the big suitcases two weeks in advance. If I could have checked closer to the time, I definitely would have packed/worn parkas. Especially since we had to wear them in the car to the airport, and then just left them in the car. You can always just wear your boots, which is what we both did.

We did a similar Med. trip last Feb-March. We got everything. In Greece and Turkey in mid-Feb it was beautiful and in the 70s every day. We took pictures one day in Crete where you could see snow on the mountains and then when we got back to the ship, they were doing a regatta near where we were docked. We ate outside and watched it. Then after Sicily and Naples, when we got into the Mediterranean proper is was freezing. They had had snow the day before we were in Marseilles. Snow three days before we were in Barcelona. Rain and sleet all the time. I canceled some outdoor excursions and we did wine tastings and cooking in a Tuscan castle. So, as Peregrina says, you never know. But I was glad for my boots. Wish I had brought a packable parka. I froze in Barcelona!

Something is definitely going on with Hawaii this year. We leave in two weeks for the Hawaii cruise. Originally, we were supposed to go to Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui. At first we thought we might have to miss Maui, but that is the only unchanged port. About six months ago, we were told that we couldn’t dock in Hilo, so would have two days in Honolulu. Then last week we were told they couldn’t find enough shore ex in Kauai, so we would skip it and go to Hilo. I’m scratching my head. So now we are Honolulu for two days, Hilo, and last Maui.

What a terrible story! I just looked, and on our cruise this fall there is an included tour called Historic Koblenz rated moderate. The castle is marked demanding is is now $99.

General question for those who have done British Isles Explorer. We aren’t very interested in any of the excursions in Liverpool. Is it easy to do a walking tour on your own? We would like to see the “three Graces” and go to the maritime museum. (Yes, yet another maritime museum for me. My husband loves them. And, truth be told, so do I). TIA

Yea. And I want a thumbs up and thumbs down.

I always try to do that too. In winter, it’s too easy just to stay home and in. So dog walks when possible. We did Homelands six years ago, but I don’t remember anything that was too demanding. And we did a lot on our own. I really think you will be fine. Sign up for what you want. When you get onboard, you can cancel and get a refund 48 hours in advance if you get info that the excursion is too much for you. But do try to live your dream!

Oh please don’t do that just across the board. It’s just too limiting. I think Viking errs on the side of caution already. I am about you age and have done many marked demanding. And when you get onboard, go to guest services and ask, because they often has a better description of the tour.

Our worst was the bouillabaisse last year in the Mediterranean. It was touted! But It was a yellow broth with one shrimp in it. We got up and went to the WC for dinner. I make this at home!!! This was dreadful!

Yes, BoraBora would be a come back for us too, except we won’t be able too, I don’t imagine. We had a wonderful glass bottom boat excursion, and then the included one where we danced with rays! Beware, we had four bad storms/ sea days on our WC, the second most intense the night after leaving BoraBora! Waves hitting he explorers lounge on deck 7!

I’m really flummoxed by this. Why aren’t the captains allowing the roof to be open? Last year in the Med., we had Captain Fredrick also on the Sky like this WC. It was so hot, and he only allowed a few feet of open roof. On our WC captains Lars and Olaf always had the roof open when reasonable. On our Alaska cruise last summer, it really wasn’t an issue.

We also overnighted in Papeete. We got in around 5 pm after thirteen days crossing the Pacific from Santiago, because we had to miss Easter Island. Everyone, everyone, from the captain to the passengers, to the crew got off and walked over to that little bar, just to get our feet on the ground. Lots of music, good food, drinks and just general merry-making! People bought flowers and I bought pearls. The next day, we took a wonderful optional excursions to gardens with a sacred site (can’t remember the name, someone can help out with this, I’m sure). No matter what you do, you’ll have fun.

I’d call that a bad meal. I remember the mushroom soup in Manfredis that was so thick and creamy that I had to add a little white wine to thin it down. On our WC the chef, Thomas, was German. We had lots of German meals. Not quite my cup of tea. But I will say, that went we did the inaugural welcome back to Iceland in 2021, our chef was just in awe that we had chef Thomas. He insisted on carrying every plate to our table himself, it was quite embarrassing. I really liked him and his food, but can’t remember his name.

Oh boy, I hate eggplant, even when it’s called aubergine.

I am so sorry to hear this, especially because we are on Neptune after you, I have said this several times before on different threads, but when you mention that something is amiss to the waiter, they send out the chef (I always want to climb under the table.). And every single time, the chef has said, “ I know how to make X, but Viking wants me to make it this way. Come again and I will make X properly for just you.” Viking, are you listening??

Well, if butlers are what you like, then O is for you! Viking specifically advertises that they DO NOT have butlers or white gloves. We, personally, would rather die than have a butler hovering around. But to each their own.

No, we only had two days. We went to the cape of Good hope and to Kirstenbosch gardens, which we loved. We walked through the company gardens, and have a fun picture driving through Bo Cape. I would go back in a heartbeat. If I had this option on the two WCs going now, I would take it and not fly home from Mumbai.

Cape Town was wonderful and I’m so glad we got to do it. But again it is a lesson in Colonialism. I remember saying to a guide that I thought it looked liked a wonderful place to live. But he responded that it was a better place to visit than live. They had severe water rationing at the time. But sailing in under Table mountain was even better than sailing into Rio. .

We were on this cruise, too, I I would have to agree.

Yikes!